Human chain against nuclear plant in Turkey
Human chain against nuclear plant in Turkey was the name of a peaceful protest.
Turkey plans to build the first nuclear plant in Akkuyu location in Mersin Province about 140 kilometres (87 mi) west of Mersin.[1] The contract has been signed and the preliminary works at the construction site have already been started. But most of the residents of Mersin oppose the decision. The opposition sharply increased after the Fukushima I nuclear accidents in Japan.
On 17 April 2011 a human chain was formed in Mersin to protest the decision.[2] It was planned that there would be 30 locations to form chains along the highway connecting Mersin to Akkuyu. But the participation was higher than the expected and several of these chains were merged with. The east end of the chain was in Mersin midtown and it reached some 20 kilometres (12 mi) west along the highway uninterrupted. Also the settlements at the west including the district centers of Silifke and Erdemli as well as Büyükeceli, the town nearest to construction site participated.
"The earthquake and tsunami in Japan proved how dangerous nuclear technology is," said Sabahat Aslan, a spokesperson for the Mersin Anti-Nuclear Platform. “We organized this protest to say ‘no’ to nuclear power plants, which will put future generations in danger.”[3]